Page 99 of Apparently, I’m Torture

“Shawn, come on. I agreed to date Trevor to satisfy Stacey. Who does that?” She sighed. “I should’ve said no; I should’ve accepted that I’d be kicked out of the sorority.”

“You felt like you didn’t have a choice.”

“But that doesn’t make it okay. Look, I’m not trying to make excuses for him. I mean, he tried to end both our careers.”

I gave her a smile I didn’t feel, and gripped her waist tight.

“It’s just that I ran myself ragged trying to please Stacey and Trevor, but all it did was hurt him. I hate that I understand why he did what he did.”

She ran her hands along my arms, and said, “But I’m done with all that now. I’m not going to let people take advantage of me anymore.”

“Really?”

“I’m not. I swear.”

I gave her a look. “So no more giving your number to parents like Mrs Hernandez?”

She groaned.

“I’m going to have to change my number, aren’t I?”

She buried her face in her hands and I cradled her head beneath my chin.

“I’m glad you’re done people-pleasing. You should put yourself first.”

“Before you?”

“Especially before me. And we can work on that together.”

Her sarcasm drawled against my chest. “As long as you don’t push me away again.”

“I won’t. You know I want you. And as hard as it is to believe, I think you want me too.”

Her hands lowered and she leaned back to squint at me. “Excuse me, have you seen you?”

I laughed, put a finger under her chin, and pressed my lips to hers. Instantly, her taste flooded my senses. Toasted cinnamon and honey coursed through me, heating my blood. My cock twitched as her breath came in sharp against my mouth. She pushed her hips against me, and I throbbed, already aching for her.

“It took me a long time to get here, but now that I am, I’ll never leave you again,” I whispered against her mouth. “You’re it for me. You always were, and you always will be.”

Chapter 36

Lilly

Friday Morning

Verra Convention Center

The center was full of color, light, and sound. Delicious smells wafted from one end to the other, merging into something that made my stomach growl.

“This is amazing,” I yelled over the music. Shawn gripped my hand tight and smiled down at me. He was suited up, and so was I.

After everything that happened, the department decided to let us work the fundraiser. I took my duties back from the teachers who had to manage without me, and oversaw the delivery of all the merch I’d arranged. Honestly? It felt good to be back here. It felt really good to finish this.

It was all the sweeter knowing that Shawn was given back his thirty percent, and I’d come up with a way to use those extra coffee cups.

Tristan waved us over from his stall, and the gathered gaggle of women stared longingly at his salt-and-pepper stubbled glory. His muscled biceps curled lovingly around Nikki and I suppressed a smile as his adoring fans, now clearly disappointed, muttered to one another.

“This was a great idea,” Nikki greeted. She drew me in for a warm hug, and said, “Have you seen all these people? I bet they’ll be at our shop ordering refills before the week is over.”